Shloka 24

रुद्राक्ष-माहात्म्य

Rudrākṣa Māhātmya — The Greatness of Rudraksha

Devanagari script

रुद्रा क्षधारणं प्राप्तं महापातकनाशनम् । रुद्र संख्याशतं धृत्वा रुद्र रूपो भवेन्नरः

Transliteration

rudrā kṣadhāraṇaṃ prāptaṃ mahāpātakanāśanam | rudra saṃkhyāśataṃ dhṛtvā rudra rūpo bhavennaraḥ

Translation

Wearing Rudrākṣa is taught as a destroyer of great sins. A person who wears a hundred beads in Rudra’s count becomes endowed with the form and qualities of Rudra (Śiva).

Word by Word

• रुद्राक्षधारणम्: wearing of rudrākṣa beads
• रुद्राक्षधारणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्राक्ष + धारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः रुद्राक्षस्य धारणम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

• प्राप्तम्: is obtained/has been attained
• प्राप्तम्: Karta (कर्ता/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्राप् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः—क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेयभावः

• महापातकनाशनम्: destroyer of great sins
• महापातकनाशनम्: Karta (कर्ता/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महापातक + नाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः महापातकस्य नाशनम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः); विशेषण (धारणम्)

• रुद्राक्ष: rudrākṣa (bead)
• रुद्राक्ष: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्राक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (object within compound phrase)

• सङ्ख्याशतम्: a count of one hundred
• सङ्ख्याशतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सङ्ख्या + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (शतसंख्या)

• धृत्वा: having worn/held
• धृत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया-पूर्वक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)

• रुद्ररूपः: having Rudra’s form / Rudra-like
• रुद्ररूपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुद्र + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः रुद्रस्य रूपः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः); विशेषण (नरः)

• भवेत्: would become / should become
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Rudrākṣa-dhāraṇa is presented as a portable sādhana: purification from mahāpātakas and steadying of Śiva-bhakti irrespective of place.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Rudra)

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

The verse teaches that Rudrākṣa-dhāraṇa is a powerful Shaiva purifier: by adopting Śiva’s sacred emblem with devotion, the practitioner becomes Rudra-like in conduct and inner disposition, moving toward purity and liberation.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

Rudrākṣa is a tangible sign of Saguna Śiva-bhakti; it supports daily worship—especially japa and pūjā of the Śiva-liṅga—by keeping the body and mind oriented toward Rudra as the personal Lord (Pati).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Wear Rudrākṣa—specifically a mālā or set totaling one hundred beads—and use it for mantra-japa (such as the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), maintaining purity, restraint, and devotion.